Team Ineos Discussion thread

[JRanton]

Has there been anything in the Belgian press about Laurens De Plus’ absence from racing since the Tour de Suisse? I know in the past he’s missed long spells through illness.

 

[JRanton]

Ineos has had a very dull Vuelta so far, offering almost nothing to the race. Hopefully this approach is not linked to Brailsfraud being back.
The model used in the Giro is much preferred, now its just drip drip, drip, with the tank being empty at the end without having done anything.
And yes, the parcours doesn't offer a lot, but still the point still stand imo.

I would expect much more traditional Sky/Ineos racing style with Brailsford back in charge and Geraint Thomas becoming head of racing.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

I would expect much more traditional Sky/Ineos racing style with Brailsford back in charge and Geraint Thomas becoming head of racing.

I was afraid of that. RIP entertainment.

 

[AlfaLum]

Ineos has nothing to gain from that racing style. They dont have any captains that are the strongest in most of the WT races on the calendar. They dont have the strongest domestiques either.

The Ineos/Sky train worked like a charm back in the days because all the other riders were dropping of the back once that train was rolling over the mountains. Nowadays you would have 6 UAE and 6 Visma riders sitting on the wheel of the last Ineos domestique if they use the same strategy.

So I think it is very unlikely that Brailsford and Thomas will break with the more attacking strategy employed recently.

 

[Escarabajo]

Sky/INEOS performance was worst before they started winning back in 2010-2011!

 

[Peter von]

I just think INEOS lacked riders with the legs to make a big splash in the Vuelta. UAE had the superior stage hunters across the board, we saw a few INEOS attempts from breaks and attempts to get into the breaks, they just didn't have the legs for it imo.

They still have a team full of overpaid former super doms and talented riders that aren't quite as good as the ones that went to UAE and a few other teams.

 

[Hugh Januss]

The Ineos/Sky train worked like a charm back in the days because all the other riders were dropping of the back once that train was rolling over the mountains. Nowadays you would have 6 UAE and 6 Visma riders sitting on the wheel of the last Ineos domestique if they use the same strategy.

That doesn't exclude them from trying it though.

 

[Wyndbrook]

I just think INEOS lacked riders with the legs to make a big splash in the Vuelta. UAE had the superior stage hunters across the board, we saw a few INEOS attempts from breaks and attempts to get into the breaks, they just didn't have the legs for it imo.

They still have a team full of overpaid former super doms and talented riders that aren't quite as good as the ones that went to UAE and a few other teams.

They did win three stages though.

 

[Peter von]

They did win three stages though.

Yeah, maybe it wasn't a big splash by SKY standards, but still a pretty decently sized splash. I could have worded it better, because you are right that 3 stage wins is not to be scoffed at.

But i do still think that overall INEOS are still struggling to find their leaders of tomorrow and that it is really tough for them to strategize their way out of that problem.

 

[JRanton]

I thought it was interesting that Red Bull have poached Zak Dempster and Oliver Cookson from Ineos and handed them important positions in their new management structure. Perhaps suggests that the Ineos staff aren’t as bad as some have made out.

 

[Rob5091]

Same day that Wiggo's interview in the Times comes out, Ineos announce that they finally got their man, Vauquelin,
https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling...h-cyclings-brightest-stars-on-three-year-deal

In a significant move within the World Tour transfer market, INEOS Grenadiers have confirmed the signing of rising French talent Kevin Vauquelin on a three-year deal starting in 2026. The 24-year-old will make the switch from Arkéa - B&B Hotels as he takes the next step in what has already become one of the most closely-watched trajectories in the peloton.

Sir Dave Brailsford, Director of INEOS Grenadiers, believes the signing reflects the team’s long-term vision.
“I’ve been excited to watch Kevin’s progress over the past couple of seasons. Not only is he a punchy rider who knows how to win, at this year’s Tour I was impressed to see him add a new dimension to his racing. He races with intelligence and ambition – qualities that fit perfectly with the Grenadiers,” says the team boss. “We believe his best years are ahead of him and we’re excited to help him realise his potential.”

 

[JRanton]

Certainly the best signing in theory since they signed the likes of Adam Yates and Tom Pidcock five years ago. Dorian Godon is also a nice addition. Hopefully the start of Ineos stepping up their recruitment efforts.

 

[JRanton]

What did people make of Ineos’ season? They won more races which was good, including at least one stage in each grand tour but there weren’t any really big wins (in 2024 Pidcock won AGR and CRod won Romandie). Their GC results have really fallen off a cliff, to the extent that their UCI points total fell from 15,548 in 2024 to 12,096 in 2025.

Their best young riders develop to a certain point but then they stall and if anything go backwards (CRod, Sheffield, Tarling etc) which is a big concern.

Sam Watson was a bright spot and took a big step forward from his last year with FDJ and Ben Turner had a nice second half of the year.

AJ August is still very young but I guess the team was hoping to see a bit more from him than he’s showed so far.

 

[Peter von]

What did people make of Ineos’ season? They won more races which was good, including at least one stage in each grand tour but there weren’t any really big wins (in 2024 Pidcock won AGR and CRod won Romandie). Their GC results have really fallen off a cliff, to the extent that their UCI points total fell from 15,548 in 2024 to 12,096 in 2025.

Yeah it's good to get more wins, but that also reflect that they can't compete for the big GCs anymore. And they have shifted focus.

But their big problem is that they didn't manage to pick up the best talents well they had Bernal who sadly peaked very early. Cycling is a team sport only to a point, you still need the strongest rider if you want to win big prices and the list of riders who can compete in France in July is very short.

 

[awavey]

Interesting article on Ineos as the Total sponsorship steps in/up. Including the possibility of switching license to being a French team

https://cyclinguptodate.com/cycling/ineos-reducing-investment-on-world-tour-team-as-oil-giant-steps-in-great-britain-could-lose-its-only-professional-team

 

[Rob5091]

I posted on the real football thread about Ineos financial problems - car sales plummeting, chemical sales too whilst pumping money into Man Utd soccer team, stadium etc. Sir Jim's been dropping sports sponsorship so if the cycling team take a hit too, it won't be unexpected.

 

[awavey]

I posted on the real football thread about Ineos financial problems - car sales plummeting, chemical sales too whilst pumping money into Man Utd soccer team, stadium etc. Sir Jim's been dropping sports sponsorship so if the cycling team take a hit too, it won't be unexpected.

not at all I think thats been on the cards for a while, he's got bored with it, like he got bored with the sailing, and he's discovered football in the UK at least is a gigantic money pit.

but to lose them as a British team completely, is more a significant change than Ineos pulling back slightly because of the implications it has for professional cycling teams in Britain, in that basically there wouldnt be any anymore and we could have a situation where theyve got the TdF grand departing in 2027 in Britain, and there are no British teams competing in it, and essentially no British broadcaster covering it properly anymore (I suspect theyll revert to doing the UK stages live with highlights of the rest as a one off).

and then where do we go from there ?

 

[Axel Hangleck]

And we thought that Sky (as it was) would be the catalyst for other possible British WT team/ teams........but it never happened.

 

[Rob5091]

not at all I think thats been on the cards for a while, he's got bored with it, like he got bored with the sailing, and he's discovered football in the UK at least is a gigantic money pit.

but to lose them as a British team completely, is more a significant change than Ineos pulling back slightly because of the implications it has for professional cycling teams in Britain, in that basically there wouldnt be any anymore and we could have a situation where theyve got the TdF grand departing in 2027 in Britain, and there are no British teams competing in it, and essentially no British broadcaster covering it properly anymore (I suspect theyll revert to doing the UK stages live with highlights of the rest as a one off).

and then where do we go from there ?

The lack of pro-cycling teams in the UK will be a talking point at the Grand Départ in 2027 no doubt. As for TV coverage, the psychic cynic in me thinks a "special offer" for streaming coverage will be floated around the time of the Tour start.